NUR 254 Exams 1 4 | Galen College | (2026/2027) Complete
Maternal & Pediatric Nursing Bundle
200 Practice Questions with Answer Key and Explanations
Question 1
A nurse is teaching a group of pregnant women about physiological changes in pregnancy. Which finding
would be considered normal?
A) Decreased heart rate
B) Increased anteriorposterior chest diameter
C) Decreased tidal volume
D) Decreased oxygen consumption
Answer: B
Explanation: Progesterone causes relaxation of ligaments, increasing chest diameter. Heart rate
increases, tidal volume increases, and oxygen consumption increases in pregnancy.
Question 2
A patient at 12 weeks gestation reports morning sickness. Which recommendation should the nurse
prioritize?
A) Eat three large meals per day
B) Drink fluids mainly with meals
C) Eat dry crackers before arising
D) Increase spicy food intake
Answer: C
Explanation: Dry crackers before rising help stabilize blood sugar and reduce nausea. Small frequent
meals, avoiding fluids with meals, and bland foods are recommended.
,Question 3
A nurse is calculating EDD using Naegele's rule. LMP was May 10. What is the EDD?
A) February 3
B) February 17
C) March 10
D) April 17
Answer: B
Explanation: Subtract 3 months (May → February) and add 7 days (10 → 17). EDD = February 17.
Question 4
The nurse is assessing a 4monthold infant. Which developmental milestone should the infant
demonstrate?
A) Sit without support
B) Roll from back to side
C) Use a pincer grasp
D) Speak twoword sentences
Answer: B
Explanation: At 4 months, infants typically roll from back to side. Sitting without support occurs around
6–8 months, pincer grasp at 9–10 months, and twoword sentences around 2 years.
,Question 5
A toddler can drink from a cup and builds a tower of four blocks. The nurse estimates the child's age as:
A) 12 months
B) 24 months
C) 18 months
D) 3 years
Answer: C
Explanation: These developmental milestones (drinking from a cup and building a tower of four blocks)
are typical for an 18monthold toddler.
Question 6
The nurse administers vitamin K to a newborn primarily to prevent:
A) Jaundice
B) Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn
C) Eye infection
D) Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Explanation: Newborns have low vitamin K levels at birth, which can lead to bleeding. The IM injection
prevents vitamin K deficiency bleeding (hemorrhagic disease of the newborn).
Question 7
A newborn's bilirubin level is 12 mg/dL at 36 hours of age. The nurse should anticipate:
A) Phototherapy as prescribed
, B) No intervention
C) Exchange transfusion
D) Discharge home
Answer: A
Explanation: A bilirubin of 12 mg/dL at 36 hours is elevated and likely requires phototherapy. Exchange
transfusion is reserved for severe hyperbilirubinemia not responding to phototherapy.
Question 8
The nurse is caring for a child who has leukemia with a white blood cell (WBC) count of < 1000 mm³.
Which of the following should the nurse include in the child's plan of care?
A) Administer prescribed influenza vaccination
B) Assign the child to a room with other children
C) Allow the child to play with other children who do not have a fever
D) Use sterile techniques for any procedures
Answer: D
Explanation: A WBC count of < 1,000/mm³ indicates severe neutropenia, placing the child at high risk for
infection. Implementing sterile techniques for all procedures is crucial to minimize the risk of
introducing pathogens. Live immunizations should be avoided until immune function is improved.
Question 9
The nurse working in the emergency department (ED) is caring for a child who has hemophilia and
developed a swollen knee after falling off a bicycle. Which action should the nurse teach the parents?
A) Take the child to the nearest emergency department (ED)
B) Keep the child's affected knee below the level of the heart
Maternal & Pediatric Nursing Bundle
200 Practice Questions with Answer Key and Explanations
Question 1
A nurse is teaching a group of pregnant women about physiological changes in pregnancy. Which finding
would be considered normal?
A) Decreased heart rate
B) Increased anteriorposterior chest diameter
C) Decreased tidal volume
D) Decreased oxygen consumption
Answer: B
Explanation: Progesterone causes relaxation of ligaments, increasing chest diameter. Heart rate
increases, tidal volume increases, and oxygen consumption increases in pregnancy.
Question 2
A patient at 12 weeks gestation reports morning sickness. Which recommendation should the nurse
prioritize?
A) Eat three large meals per day
B) Drink fluids mainly with meals
C) Eat dry crackers before arising
D) Increase spicy food intake
Answer: C
Explanation: Dry crackers before rising help stabilize blood sugar and reduce nausea. Small frequent
meals, avoiding fluids with meals, and bland foods are recommended.
,Question 3
A nurse is calculating EDD using Naegele's rule. LMP was May 10. What is the EDD?
A) February 3
B) February 17
C) March 10
D) April 17
Answer: B
Explanation: Subtract 3 months (May → February) and add 7 days (10 → 17). EDD = February 17.
Question 4
The nurse is assessing a 4monthold infant. Which developmental milestone should the infant
demonstrate?
A) Sit without support
B) Roll from back to side
C) Use a pincer grasp
D) Speak twoword sentences
Answer: B
Explanation: At 4 months, infants typically roll from back to side. Sitting without support occurs around
6–8 months, pincer grasp at 9–10 months, and twoword sentences around 2 years.
,Question 5
A toddler can drink from a cup and builds a tower of four blocks. The nurse estimates the child's age as:
A) 12 months
B) 24 months
C) 18 months
D) 3 years
Answer: C
Explanation: These developmental milestones (drinking from a cup and building a tower of four blocks)
are typical for an 18monthold toddler.
Question 6
The nurse administers vitamin K to a newborn primarily to prevent:
A) Jaundice
B) Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn
C) Eye infection
D) Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Explanation: Newborns have low vitamin K levels at birth, which can lead to bleeding. The IM injection
prevents vitamin K deficiency bleeding (hemorrhagic disease of the newborn).
Question 7
A newborn's bilirubin level is 12 mg/dL at 36 hours of age. The nurse should anticipate:
A) Phototherapy as prescribed
, B) No intervention
C) Exchange transfusion
D) Discharge home
Answer: A
Explanation: A bilirubin of 12 mg/dL at 36 hours is elevated and likely requires phototherapy. Exchange
transfusion is reserved for severe hyperbilirubinemia not responding to phototherapy.
Question 8
The nurse is caring for a child who has leukemia with a white blood cell (WBC) count of < 1000 mm³.
Which of the following should the nurse include in the child's plan of care?
A) Administer prescribed influenza vaccination
B) Assign the child to a room with other children
C) Allow the child to play with other children who do not have a fever
D) Use sterile techniques for any procedures
Answer: D
Explanation: A WBC count of < 1,000/mm³ indicates severe neutropenia, placing the child at high risk for
infection. Implementing sterile techniques for all procedures is crucial to minimize the risk of
introducing pathogens. Live immunizations should be avoided until immune function is improved.
Question 9
The nurse working in the emergency department (ED) is caring for a child who has hemophilia and
developed a swollen knee after falling off a bicycle. Which action should the nurse teach the parents?
A) Take the child to the nearest emergency department (ED)
B) Keep the child's affected knee below the level of the heart
